Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Oscars 2016: Gotham/NBR/NYFCC Winners

Hello, Bloggers, awards season has really started to kick in since some of the key critical circles, the Gotham Awards, the National Board of Review, and New York Film Critics Circle awards have announced their winners. Let's see how they've affected the race:

Gothams:

Best Film: Spotlight
Best Actor: Paul Dano, Love & Mercy
Best Actress: Bel Powley, Diary of a Teenage Girl
Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director Award: Jonas Carpigano, Mediterranea
Best Documentary: The Look of Silence
Best Screenplay: Spotlight
Breakthrough Actor: Mya Taylor, Tangerine
Audience Award: TangerineSpotlight hardly needed this boost since it is already a frontrunner. But Tangerine has started to get some traction within the indie circuit and I'm thrilled to see Paul Dano take this. Even if he is being pushed in the wrong category for the Oscars (Supporting), this is a much needed boost for his chances. Bel Powley is also a nice surprise, considering how she beat competition like Cate Blanchett, Brie Larson, Lily Tomlin, and even Kristen Wiig, who plays her mother in Diary of a Teenage Girl. Very exciting, though.

National Board of Review:

Best Film: Mad Max: Fury Road
Best Director: Ridley Scott, The Martian
Best Actor: Matt Damon, The Martian
Best Actress: Brie Larson, Room
Best Supporting Actor: Sylvester Stallone, Creed
Best Supporting Actress: Jennifer Jason Leigh, The Hateful Eight
Best Original Screenplay: The Hateful Eight
Best Adapted Screenplay: The Martian
Best Ensemble: The Big Short
Breakthrough Award: Abraham Attah, Beasts of No Nation and Jacob Tremblay, Room
Best Animated Film: Inside Out
Best Foreign Language Film: Son of Saul
Best Documentary: Amy
Best Directorial Debut: Jonas Carpigano, Mediterranea
Spotlight Award: Sicario for its outstanding collaborative vision
Freedom of Expression Award: Beasts of No Nation and Mustang
I'm loving the Martian love and I especially love that Mad Max took Best Film. Slightly suspicious that it didn't grab awards in other areas. But if you're going to win one award, just nabbing Best Film is nothing to scoff at. Brie Larson has showcased her staying power in the Best Actress race and Inside Out has maintained its frontrunner status in the Best Animated Film category. Absolutely divine! Also, if you look at the rest of their top 10 list, as well as their other lists, it gets even better: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/national-board-review-2015-winners-844862

New York Film Critics Circle:

Best Film: Carol
Best Director: Todd Haynes, Carol
Best Actor: Michael Keaton, Spotlight
Best Actress: Saoirse Ronan, Brooklyn
Best Supporting Actor: Mark Rylance, Bridge of Spies
Best Supporting Actress: Kristen Stewart, Clouds of Sils Maria
Best Screenplay: Carol
Best Cinematography: Carol
Best Animated Film: Inside Out
Best Foreign Language Film: Timbuktu
Best First Film: Son of Saul
Best Nonfiction Film: In Jackson HeightsCarol got a major boost after getting shut out at the Gotham Awards. Also, Saoirse Ronan has demonstrated her staying power in the Best Actress race. As of now, I think it is between her and Brie Larson in that race. I would say Cate Blanchett and Jennifer Lawrence are hot on their heels, but I think they both will be hurt by the fact that they just won. But one major highlight from these winners is seeing Kristen Stewart win Best Supporting Actress! With her key win for this as well as her history-making Cesar win, she has really proven herself as a dark horse in the Best Supporting Actress race.

Overall, I am pretty satisfied with how the race is going so far. I love that genre films like Mad Max: Fury Road and The Martian are showing some staying power. Although I do have Carol, Brooklyn, and Spotlight on my to-do list at this point. Between those three, I might see Brooklyn first. Although if Carol comes out next week, that might complicate things.

What do you guys think? How do you think the race has shaken up? Be sure to leave your thoughts in the comments section. Thanks for reading and I look forward to continuing to covering the Oscar race up until February 28th!